Never received my PFL baby bonding benefits after maternity SDI ended a year ago - can I still claim?

Yes, you can absolutely file retroactively for PFL baby bonding benefits! The time limit is actually 12 months from the date of birth, so you're cutting it close but still eligible. You need to submit form DE2501F (the Paid Family Leave claim form) ASAP - literally this week if possible. Make sure you have your child's birth certificate ready and your employment information from that time period. You can file online through SDI Online or by mail, but online is much faster given your timeline. The PFL benefits are completely separate from the pregnancy disability benefits you already received.

OMG thank you!!! Filing right now!!! Do you know if I need any documents from my employer since its been so long? I'm not even at the same job anymore!

same thing hapened to me!!! my baby is 14 months now and i found out too late :( missed out on like 7k because nobody told me disability and bonding were seperate things!! so mad at myself. hope you can still get yours since your under the 12 months

This is unfortunately way too common. The EDD does a terrible job explaining that these are two completely separate programs with separate applications. Many people think once their SDI disability claim for recovery from childbirth ends, PFL baby bonding starts automatically. The EDD should be sending clear notifications when SDI ends explaining how to transition to PFL, but they don't. I see this confusion all the time.

RIGHT?! I literally had no idea they were different programs. my hr person just gave me the disability papers and never mentioned anything about baby bonding leave. so frustrating

Just to clarify an important point: the 12-month deadline is from the FIRST DAY you become eligible for PFL baby bonding, not the birth date itself. So if you were on SDI for 8 weeks after birth, your 12-month clock for PFL technically started when your SDI ended. This gives you a slight extension beyond the actual birth date.\n\nFor example, if your baby was born April 15, 2024, and you collected SDI until June 10, 2024, then you have until June 10, 2025 to file your PFL claim. So depending on exactly when your disability ended, you might have a couple extra weeks beyond the birth date to file.\n\nFile immediately though - EDD is notoriously slow processing claims that are near the deadline. Also, if you want to talk to someone at EDD about your specific situation, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. I was on hold for 3+ hours trying to sort out my retroactive claim until I found their service. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 - totally worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive issues like this.

This is the best news ever!!! My SDI ended around June 28th last year so that means I have a little more time! Going to try calling them tomorrow to make sure I'm doing everything right. If I cant get through I'll definitely try that Claimyr thing. THANK YOU!!

when i had my baby the hospital gave me a whole packet about filing for benefits but my sister didnt get anything when she delivered at a different hospital! maybe thats why so many people miss out on this. good luck!

I hate to be pessimistic, but just prepare yourself for a potential denial. The EDD can be RIDICULOUSLY STRICT about these deadlines. I filed my retroactive claim ONE DAY late (according to their calculation) and they denied me completely. I appealed and it took 5 MONTHS to get a hearing, only to be denied again because

This isn't entirely accurate. While EDD does enforce filing deadlines, they do consider mitigating factors during appeals, especially for new parents who weren't properly informed about the separate application processes. I've helped several clients win appeals based on lack of notification from employers or medical providers. The key is documenting why you weren't aware of the need to file separately and how you took action promptly once you learned about it.\n\nOP should definitely file immediately but should also prepare a brief written statement explaining why they didn't file within the normal timeframe. Include any relevant facts about not being informed by HR, confusing the two programs, etc. This documentation will be essential if there's an initial denial and subsequent appeal.

Maybe I just got unlucky with my case worker then. I had TONS of documentation showing my employer never told me about the separate applications and the judge still denied me. But I guess it's worth trying!

Make sure you file your claim for the EXACT date range you were eligible for baby bonding leave. If you try to claim from the birth date, they'll deny it because you were on SDI then - you can only receive one benefit at a time. Calculate the 8 weeks immediately following your SDI end date.\n\nAlso, a year ago, the weekly benefit amount for PFL was approximately $1,060-$1,620 depending on your income (maximum was around $1,620). So for 8 weeks, you're potentially looking at $8,500-$13,000 in retroactive benefits. Definitely worth pursuing!\n\nWhen you file your claim, include a letter explaining why you're filing late. Mention that you weren't informed about the separate application requirements and that you're filing within the 12-month deadline as soon as you became aware of your eligibility.

This is super helpful, thank you! I was making about $78,000 a year when I had my baby, so I'm guessing I'd be eligible for a pretty good amount. Fingers crossed this works out! Will definitely include a letter explaining everything.

i think you might be out of luck honestly... my cousin tried to do this and they told her she was too late even though it was like 11 months. something about needing to file within a certain time after your disability ends, not just before the babys first bday. worth trying tho

Your cousin might have been given incorrect information or had some other complicating factor. The law is very clear: you have 12 months from the first day you're eligible for the benefit (which is typically when your SDI ends after childbirth) to file a claim for PFL baby bonding. This is straight from the EDD website and statute. The 12-month clock doesn't start on the birth date if you were on SDI first.

Just wondering but did u get any other paid leave from your employer? like company maternity leave? because that might affect how much you can claim

No, my company was super small (only 9 employees) so they didn't offer any paid leave at all. I basically just had the SDI payments and then went back to work early because we needed the money. That's why this is such a big deal to me - we really struggled and I had no idea I was eligible for more paid time!!

Based on all the responses here, I'd like to summarize the key action items for you:\n\n1. File your PFL claim IMMEDIATELY through SDI Online\n2. Calculate your eligible dates carefully (the 8 weeks immediately following your SDI end date)\n3. Include a detailed letter explaining why you're filing retroactively but still within the 12-month deadline\n4. Have your documentation ready:\n - Child's birth certificate\n - SDI claim records showing end date\n - Employment verification from that period\n - Any medical records showing childbirth and recovery\n5. When filing online, check \

Thank you so much for this summary! I'm filing my claim right now on SDI Online. One question - it's asking for \

Yes, exactly. Your \